Improvement in apparatus for preserving beer in kegs



W. GAPPRON. Apparatus for Preserving Beer in Kegs. No. 209,244. Patented Oct. 22, I878.-

, \i M w. A MAW, ..X ,\j///., V i v 2 0 HI 2 w WITNESSES pertains to make and use ters of reference indicate like parts in the invcntion.

to the keg, having an inwardly-opening valve,

' valve, B, at its bottom, which IVILLIAM GAFFRON, OF JEFFERSON CITY, MISSOURI.

IMPROVEMENT IN APPARATUS FOR PRESERVING BEER IN KEGS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent N0. 209,244,

June 6,

dated October 22, 1878 application filed 1878.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WM. GAFFRON, of the city of Jefferson, coimty of Cole, and State of Missouri, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Vented Beer-Buugs; and I declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it apthe same, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, which forms part of this specification.

In the accompanying drawing similar let- My invention has relation to that class of apparatus in which an elastic bag is used to fill the space caused by the loss of the contents of the keg; and mainly consists of a bun g of novel construction, permanently attached operated by a spring, in connection with a tubular plug containing the inflated bag, all of which will be hereinafter more fully described, and particularly set forth in the claims.

Figure 1 1's'a vertical sectional view of my invention as applied when in use. Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the flanged collar, which is permanently attached to the keg, and which receives the vented bung proper.

A is the cylindrical collar, having the flange a at its top, and provided with an air-tight valveis kept The center of the upper side of the valve B is drilled and tapped to receive the stud c, which is attached to the under side of the screw-cap O. The cylindrical collar A is driven into the keg in lieu of the common wooden hung, the cap 0 serving to hold the valve B tightly in place and preclosed by a spring, b.

vent the admission of air until the keg is ready for tapping.

hen the conten ts of the keg are to be used, the cap 0 is removed by inserting a key in the pin-holes c and unscrewing the same. The tube D is then driven in, the lower end of which forces open the valve B. The tube D is provided with an air-tight cap, (I, in which is secured the tube E, the latter extending nearly to the bottom of the tube D. The space between the tubes E and D is sufficiently large to admit the exhausted elastic bag F, the mouth of which is secured to the tube E.

It will readily be seen that as the contents of the keg are drawn off air is admitted to the bag F, which, as it expands, fills the space in the keg occasioned by the loss of its contents, thus preventing the air itself from coming in contact with the beer, and thus preserving the beer on tap for an indefinite time. If desired, the rubber tube 9, which is attached to the upper projecting end of the tube E, may be connected with a force-pump, and the con tents of the keg forced to a distance.

Having thus described my invention and the operation of the same, what I claim as new and useful, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

1. In a vented bung, the flanged collar A, having valve B, in combination with the screwcap 0, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In a vented bung, the tube D, having cap 01, vprovided with the rigid internal tube E, having the elastic bag F attached thereto, in combination with the flanged collar A provided with the valve B, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

W. GAFFRON.

I/Vitnesses:

F. A. NITcHY, S. W. Cox. 

